instructions
Tools
Relevant Parts
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1 — Making the Basic Otedama
Fold your scrap fabric in half, right sides together, so you join the two 4" edges.
Adjust the stitch length on your sewing machine to 2mm. Then sew the 2 layers of fabric together along the 4" edge and one of the ends, using a 1/4" seam allowance.
Contrasting thread s good for visibility here; you’ll want to use matching thread.
Clip the corners, and press the seams open with either your fingers or an iron.
Turn the otedama right side out, poking the corners with a chopstick so they turn out nice and sharp.
Step 2
Locate the seam at the bottom of your otedama. This is the seam that’s opposite to the open end. Thread a needle, and tie a knot in the thread. Pass the needle into this seam, and bring it back out at the corner of the otedama. (This step will hide your knot.)
Put the 2 corners together. Take 3–5 tiny stitches through both corners, tacking them together at the point where they meet. On your last stitch, leave a small loop in the thread, pass your needle through it twice, then pull it tight. This makes a secure knot. Now your otedama has a nice, square end.
Step 3
To fill your otedama, turn it so that the open end faces up, and set it on a flat surface. Fill with the filling of your choice, until the filling level is about 1 1/2" from the top edge of the fabric.
Turn under a 1/4" hem around the top edge of the fabric. Press it in place with your fingers, and then secure the 2 sides together with a pin.
Sew the end of the otedama closed using tiny whipstitches. Knot the end of the thread, as you just did.
Step 4
Flatten this seam, and tack the remaining 2 corners together, as you just did. Pat your otedama into shape, and it’s finished.
Step 5 — Variation: Piecework Otedama
You can create beautiful otedama by adding more fabrics. For a 2-color otedama, start with 2 pieces of fabric, each measuring 4"×3 3/4". Place right sides together, and sew along 3 sides. Then proceed with the basic instructions.
For a 4-color otedama, start with 4 pieces of fabric, each measuring 4"×2 1/8". Stitch them together in pairs. Place these 2 pieces right sides together, alternating the patterns. Sew together on 3 sides and proceed with the basic instructions.
Step 6 — Variation: Otedama Fruits
Traditionally, fruit-shaped otedama were very popular in Japan, as heralds of the changing seasons.
Fold your scrap fabric in half, right sides together, so you join the two 4" edges. Adjust the stitch length on your sewing machine to 2mm. Then sew the 2 layers of fabric together along the 4" edge, leaving 2 edges of the otedama unsewn (the top and bottom).
Next, with the right sides of the fabric together, take one of the open ends of the fabric, and turn a 1/4" hem toward the outside. Press it in place with your fingers. Thread a needle with doubled thread, and tie a large knot in the thread.
Step 7
Make a gathering stitch all the way around the hem. Pull the thread to gather the fabric as tightly as possible. Then take a few stitches across the center opening to seal it up, so your filling won’t leak out.
Turn the otedama right side out. Fill with the filling of your choice, stopping when the filling is 1" from the edge of the fabric.
Turn a 1/4" hem to the inside of the remaining raw edge of fabric. Then press it in place with your fingers. Thread a needle with doubled thread, and tie a large knot in the thread. Run a gathering stitch through it to gather and close.
Sew on some felt leaves. You can even embroider some veins on the leaves for an extra touch.
Step 8 — Variation: Otedama Animals
Animal otedama are popular in Japan today, and they’re a fun way to get kids excited about juggling. To make the owl, dog, and fish, begin with a piece of fabric that’s 4 3/4"×7". Follow the Basic instructions through until you've sewn the end closed and knotted the end of the thread. Then, to make an owl otedama, fold the top seam down in the center. Take a few stitches to hold in place. Add felt and button embellishments.
To make a fish otedama, run a gathering stitch across the unfilled part, about 1/2" above the top of the filling. Pull the gathering stitch to make a tail. Add felt or fabric fins, and felt or button eyes.
To make a dog otedama, flatten the top of the otedama so that the 2 corners stick out to the sides. Take a few small stitches through each corner to create ears. Add felt or button embellishments.
Instructions from http://makeprojects.com/Project/Otedama/1403/1#.UFGZ8Y1lTSg
- Chopstick
- Long quilting pin
- Scissors
- Sewing machine You can, of course, sew your otedama together by hand. If you do, be sure to use very small stitches, so the filling won’t leak out.
- Sewing needle , small
Relevant Parts
- Thread that matches your fabric
- Scrap fabric , 4"×7 1/4" Silk is a traditional otedama material, but quilting cottons may be easier to work with. You’ll need 1 piece of scrap fabric for each otedama you make.
- Filling Traditional fillings are adzuki beans or short-grain rice.
- Felt scraps Optional; for embellishment
- Buttons Optional; for embellishment
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1 — Making the Basic Otedama
Fold your scrap fabric in half, right sides together, so you join the two 4" edges.
Adjust the stitch length on your sewing machine to 2mm. Then sew the 2 layers of fabric together along the 4" edge and one of the ends, using a 1/4" seam allowance.
Contrasting thread s good for visibility here; you’ll want to use matching thread.
Clip the corners, and press the seams open with either your fingers or an iron.
Turn the otedama right side out, poking the corners with a chopstick so they turn out nice and sharp.
Step 2
Locate the seam at the bottom of your otedama. This is the seam that’s opposite to the open end. Thread a needle, and tie a knot in the thread. Pass the needle into this seam, and bring it back out at the corner of the otedama. (This step will hide your knot.)
Put the 2 corners together. Take 3–5 tiny stitches through both corners, tacking them together at the point where they meet. On your last stitch, leave a small loop in the thread, pass your needle through it twice, then pull it tight. This makes a secure knot. Now your otedama has a nice, square end.
Step 3
To fill your otedama, turn it so that the open end faces up, and set it on a flat surface. Fill with the filling of your choice, until the filling level is about 1 1/2" from the top edge of the fabric.
Turn under a 1/4" hem around the top edge of the fabric. Press it in place with your fingers, and then secure the 2 sides together with a pin.
Sew the end of the otedama closed using tiny whipstitches. Knot the end of the thread, as you just did.
Step 4
Flatten this seam, and tack the remaining 2 corners together, as you just did. Pat your otedama into shape, and it’s finished.
Step 5 — Variation: Piecework Otedama
You can create beautiful otedama by adding more fabrics. For a 2-color otedama, start with 2 pieces of fabric, each measuring 4"×3 3/4". Place right sides together, and sew along 3 sides. Then proceed with the basic instructions.
For a 4-color otedama, start with 4 pieces of fabric, each measuring 4"×2 1/8". Stitch them together in pairs. Place these 2 pieces right sides together, alternating the patterns. Sew together on 3 sides and proceed with the basic instructions.
Step 6 — Variation: Otedama Fruits
Traditionally, fruit-shaped otedama were very popular in Japan, as heralds of the changing seasons.
Fold your scrap fabric in half, right sides together, so you join the two 4" edges. Adjust the stitch length on your sewing machine to 2mm. Then sew the 2 layers of fabric together along the 4" edge, leaving 2 edges of the otedama unsewn (the top and bottom).
Next, with the right sides of the fabric together, take one of the open ends of the fabric, and turn a 1/4" hem toward the outside. Press it in place with your fingers. Thread a needle with doubled thread, and tie a large knot in the thread.
Step 7
Make a gathering stitch all the way around the hem. Pull the thread to gather the fabric as tightly as possible. Then take a few stitches across the center opening to seal it up, so your filling won’t leak out.
Turn the otedama right side out. Fill with the filling of your choice, stopping when the filling is 1" from the edge of the fabric.
Turn a 1/4" hem to the inside of the remaining raw edge of fabric. Then press it in place with your fingers. Thread a needle with doubled thread, and tie a large knot in the thread. Run a gathering stitch through it to gather and close.
Sew on some felt leaves. You can even embroider some veins on the leaves for an extra touch.
Step 8 — Variation: Otedama Animals
Animal otedama are popular in Japan today, and they’re a fun way to get kids excited about juggling. To make the owl, dog, and fish, begin with a piece of fabric that’s 4 3/4"×7". Follow the Basic instructions through until you've sewn the end closed and knotted the end of the thread. Then, to make an owl otedama, fold the top seam down in the center. Take a few stitches to hold in place. Add felt and button embellishments.
To make a fish otedama, run a gathering stitch across the unfilled part, about 1/2" above the top of the filling. Pull the gathering stitch to make a tail. Add felt or fabric fins, and felt or button eyes.
To make a dog otedama, flatten the top of the otedama so that the 2 corners stick out to the sides. Take a few small stitches through each corner to create ears. Add felt or button embellishments.
Instructions from http://makeprojects.com/Project/Otedama/1403/1#.UFGZ8Y1lTSg